Five Louth crash victims’ bodies returned to families as tragic vigils held & 6th car occupant released from hospital

The reeling local community gathered in prayer and remembrance for the five young lives lost
THE bodies of the five victims of the Louth road crash have been returned to their families today as candlelit vigils took place in their memory.

Post-mortem examinations on the three men and two women have been completed – while a sixth occupant of the car who survived the crash has been released from hospital.

Five youngsters all under 25 lost their lives in a “shocking, devastating” head-on horror tragedy that has stunned the country.

The pals died after their VW Golf was involved in a collision with a Toyota Land Cruiser on a winding stretch of road near Dundalk, Co Louth, on Saturday night.

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, who were in the Land Cruiser remain in hospital after suffering non-life threatening conditions.

Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, Co Meath, died along with his girlfriend Chloe McGee, 23, from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.

The other victims were Shay Duffy, 21, also from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, Dylan Commins, 23, from Ardee, Co Louth and Chloe Hipson, 21, from Scotland.

The reeling local community gathered in prayer and remembrance tonight for the five young lives lost.

Three vigils for the victims were held at a number of GAA clubs in the north east tonight.

One was held at Aughnamullen GAA ground north of Carrickmacross, where Ms McGee was a member.

Another vigil took place at Drumconrath, while Sean McDermotts GFC in Ardee also organised a candlelight vigil at the club’s pitch.

Fergal Finn, Chairperson of Sean McDermotts GFC, said: “We organised a candlelit vigil up at the clubhouse.

‘TRAUMA AND HEARTACHE’

“It was to welcome everyone to come together and to be together to try and comprehend and deal with the trauma and the heartache that we as a community are dealing with now and how we feel for all of those affected families who are our friends and our neighbours.”

Books of condolence also opened to the public across Co Louth today in civic offices in Ardee, Drogheda and Dundalk.

Cllr Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Dolores Minogue, Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, and Chief Executive David Conway opened the first Book of Condolence at the Civic Offices in Ardee.

Cllr Kelly said: “The entire county is heartbroken by this devastating tragedy.

“At a time when people start thinking about the joys of Christmas, the loss of five precious lives has cast a deep shadow over our community.

“The pain their families are enduring is beyond words, and we hold them close in our hearts at this incredibly sad time.

David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, added: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this terrible incident.

“Five young people from different communities, yet linked together in friendship, were taken far too soon, and that makes this loss all the more poignant.”

TRIBUTES POUR IN

Death notices have been published for most of the victims online.

Mr McCluskey was described as a “gentle soul” and a “lovely young man”.

He is survived by his parents, sisters, brothers-in-law and extended family.
Mr Commins, who is survived by his parents, sisters and family, was remembered as “a true gentleman and a cherished friend to many”.

Mr Duffy was described as “a lovely lad … always a smile and something funny to say”.

Mr Duffy is survived by his parents, brothers, girlfriend and family.

Ms McGee was remembered as “beloved” by her family and Monsignor Shane McCaughey in Carrickmacross said she had made “such a huge success of her life”.

Tributes were also paid to Scottish student Ms Hipson, who moved to Ireland to study after graduating from South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride.

She was a Second Year Quantity Surveying student at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) where a book of condolence was opened today.

The pain their families are enduring is beyond words, and we hold them close in our hearts at this incredibly sad timeCllr Sean Kelly

Friends also posted tributes on social media, with one describing her as “absolutely one of a kind, the funniest, most gorgeous girl in the land”.

In a statement this evening, Gardai said post-mortem examinations of the deceased have now been completed.

They said: “The remains of Chloe, Dylan, Alan, Chloe and Shay have now been released to their families, and are being returned to their localities.

“The sixth occupant of the Volkswagen Golf, a male in his 20s, has been discharged from hospital.

GARDA LATEST

Gardai continue to appeal for anyone with information on the crash to come forward, particularly anyone who was on the L3168 road between 8:30pm and 9:15pm on Saturday.

“The two occupants of the other vehicle (Toyota Landcruiser), a male and a female in their 20s, remain in hospital where they continue to receive medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries.”